Ken Porter

Founder, Porter Media Group

Detroit, MI

“The opportunity of a lifetime, must happen within the lifetime of the opportunity.”

That’s a quote I live by and in 2016, the opportunity of a lifetime manifested for me. I had recently been admitted into the Michigan Minority Supplier Development Council, but my business had become stagnant and my expenses were astronomical. Much of my earnings were going to my contractors and vendor partners, leaving me with enough to simply maintain. After a visit to the MMSDC to explain that I badly needed funding, I was informed about the Entrepreneurs of Color Fund, which was money funded by JP Morgan Chase & the W.K. Kellogg Foundation to lend money to minority owned businesses in Detroit. I applied and received a $70,000 loan from the fund.

I could never acquire a traditional bank loan previously and as a result I was able to buy my own commercial print machines, hire staff and move into a business-friendly office and production space. By bringing my production capabilities in house, my revenue grew 110 percent from 2016-2017. My connections improved, I was able to control turn around and my customer service grew immensely. From that moment onward, my business has been full steam ahead and my life along with it. And I’m proud to be one of the first fruits of that fund.

THE COME UP

Porter Media Group is a corporate print and communications company I founded in 2010, specializing in conference marketing collateral, futuristic print solutions and brand management. We’ve achieved things I never dreamed possible through PMG. We’ve serviced the brand of companies such as JP Morgan Chase, Adient, the City of Detroit and we also oversee book production for Dr. William F. Pickard’s “Millionaire Moves” series. Additionally, Porter Media Group has been featured in publications such as Forbes Japan, Crain’s Detroit Business and The Detroit Free Press. PMG was recently nominated for both, the prestigious Supplier of the Year Award through the Michigan Minority Supplier Development Council and Crain’s Detroit Business 40 Under Forty 2018 listing.

Some of the most prestigious conference organizers trust their event branding with Porter Media Group, such as the FIRST Robotics Competition, the largest robotics competition in the world. This is an extreme honor and the reason we aim to treat our clients like royalty, because they’ve entrusted us with their most valuable asset – their name and reputation.

Years ago in my past, I had no idea this was awaiting in front of me. My father established a family business for us growing up, it was a cleaning company and gave me early exposure to entrepreneurship. When I was 27, I worked full time as a manager at a local print and graphics shop while running PMG on the side. I found myself making more money running PMG than my actual job and that’s when I decided to venture out on my own and run my business full time. Our largest client account from my job followed me over to Porter Media Group and is still one of our blue chip clients today.

That’s how it all began, but it wasn’t easy and my vision wasn’t fully developed. I was running my business as a one man show from my living room and I was dealing with serious depression around those early days, which affected my business. Because I wasn’t happy within, it kept me complacent and I wasn’t focused on growth. A renewed relationship with God helped me to eventually overcome my depression and along with it came a new vision for my relationship with entrepreneurship.

THE VISION FOR MY CITY

My heart’s desire today is to see growth and success happen not just for me but for those around me, that also look like me. I want to be able to inspire young black men to be great and to move forward despite the fear and risk that comes with entrepreneurship.

Today I’m a father, husband, entrepreneur and mentor in the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Metropolitan Detroit program. Detroit will forever be the apple of my eye. I want to experience a great Detroit for everyone, an all-inclusive Detroit across the spectrum. I’ve been offered opportunities across the country, others have encouraged me to relocate to places like Atlanta or Texas. But I believe Detroit is the best place for entrepreneurs of color and my heart is resolute to be here and cultivate that reality further. To have a role in elevating and molding the next generation of African-American entrepreneurs, would be the most rewarding moment for me yet.